Autumn 2009

White-Throated Sparrow

These are from my anniversary flowers.

Such a pretty rose!

Mexican Train!

Julianne, Matt and Jessica

What happens when you study biology for a long time....

25th anniversary flowers

Hello!

It doesn't seem like two weeks since I've posted. What have I been doing? I looked over my calendar to see what has been going on these last weeks. It hasn't been overly busy. We've had some doctor and orthodontist appointments, election day, errands, grocery shopping--the usual. I just haven't been taking the time to post lately.

Julianne and I have started back playing games. Our game of choice is usually Trouble. Haha! We love that game and play it all the time. I also bought a set of dominoes and we've been playing Mexican Train a lot. Jessica was over the other night and we taught her to play. We'll be taking the game when we go to New Jersey next week.

The last three days we have had rain, rain and more rain. I think we're over 7". It finally stopped today and as I was outside about 5:00 I saw the sun! It was beautiful!! Tomorrow it's supposed to be sunny and warm. A perfect Lord Day's...and we're going to a surprise party after church to play miniature golf and ride go-karts.

Next Friday we're driving up to spend five days with my mom. I thought Julianne had school off on the 24th (the day we're returning) but she doesn't! Oops! I don't like her to miss any days of school but I really can't come back sooner. I think it will be ok and I'll get any homework assignments from her teacher. Of course, she can still do her history and Spanish there or here. :-)

Since I will be gone until right before Thanksgiving, I'm going to do my grocery shopping on Tuesday. I know I have a lot of my ingredients in my pantry so I don't think I really need to get that much. I just don't want to shop on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The grocery stores are a little too crazy on that day!

I will leave you with a quote from Respectable Sins. Each lesson has been so convicting to me!!

"You will recognize that there is a recurring theme running through this chapter [discontentment] as well as the previous one [anxiety and frustration]. That theme is the importance of a firm belief in the sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness of God in all the circumstances of our lives. Whether those circumstances are short-term or long-term, our ability to respond to them in a God-honoring and God-pleasing manner depends on our ability and willingness to bring these truths to bear on them. And we must do this by faith; that is, we must believe that the bible's teaching about these attributes really is true and that God has brought or allowed these difficult circumstances in our lives for His glory and our ultimate good."

"Home-Focused"

Back in July I wrote a post about losing my focus for all things home. Even before my crazy summer, I felt that I needed to be home more. I can say that these few months of being "home-focused" have been wonderful. I do not feel overwhelmed at all and the days have been mostly stress-free.

I would say my days are full but not busy. Does that make sense? I have been working on sewing projects, rubber stamping, and baking. I have been keeping up with the housework and laundry. It is so nice to see the house clean and uncluttered. Such pleasure for my eyes!

Being home-focused on most days has allowed me time to do other things. I have been able to take several ladies out for lunch and for fellowship/encouragement. It is such a blessing to talk about the things of the Lord and of our roles as wives and mothers. I have also been able to concentrate on spending time with my family. We are not always scattered every day!

Since that post, we have started up with our fellowship group meeting here every other Satuday night. Our study of "Respectable Sins" has been deep, convicting and provided lots of good conservation. I look forward to these nights much more than I did last year. I was so busy with too many activities last year that I would have to do most of my cleaning/cooking on Saturday before the group came then I would be exhausted. Now I'm able to plan my meal ahead of time and since the house is usually picked up, there isn't a lot for me to do on Saturday except prepare the meal. So much nicer than being stressed!

I have also taken over as our church's bookstore manager. I like working the bookstore but I don't like getting home after 1:00 on Sundays. I was sharing the duties with another but she has decided not to continue. So, I'm looking for an assistant so we can switch off every other week. A request will be in the bulletin this week. Please pray that I will get a volunteer!

I have also taken on the duty of bringing flowers and a gift to moms who have their second (or more) baby. I really like this ministry and it doesn't take much time at all. Another ministry I have started is to write notes to the ladies at church. I know I have been blessed when someone has taken the time to write me a note of encouragement or just to say they were thinking of me so I have started doing the same.

I know it is not popular or politically correct to be a keeper at home but it is correct in God's eyes. I have not worked in the outside world for over 20 years and I am quite content to keep it that way. God has called women to be busy at home and I want to follow that calling with all my heart.

The Simple Woman's Daybook (a day late)

For Tuesday, October 27, 2009...

Outside my window...it’s a cloudy, rainy day but the leaves are brilliant orange, red and yellow

I am thinking...that God likes variety based on the many different trees and their colors

I am thankful for...God’s faithfulness even when I am not

From the learning rooms...grading some tests and organizing some files

From the kitchen...I’m thinking of making some pumpkin cookies tomorrow

I am wearing...jeans, black sweater, white shirt, black shoes

I am creating...still working on my bibs; I’m almost finished one

I am going...to take Julianne to karate

I am reading...instructions to make some cloth coasters for Christmas

I am hoping...that the time between now and Christmas will go slow

I am hearing...my washer and dryer; a sound heard most days

Around the house...it is decorated for fall with lots of candles and jack o’lanterns

One of my favorite things...is fall foliage—a surprise every year

A few plans for the rest of the week: doctor’s appointment, getting Michael and Julianne ready for backpacking, and a baby shower on Saturday

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...I love the colors in this picture

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to read more like this one? If so, please check out The Simple Woman's Daybook!

Third Day Concert

Third Day/Charlottesville, VA

I'm laughing because we were just talking about how cold it was that night. Once the concert started who felt the cold???

Where Is Your Treasure?

As I was doing errands one day, I passed a self-storage facility. There was a sign at the entrance that caught my attention. It read: Whatever your treasure, we will store and adore it.

That sign sums up a lot of the culture right now. We work all day to make money to buy more stuff. We don't like that stuff so we put it in a storage unit and buy new stuff. On and on it goes. One article I read stated that: "Self storage industry has gained from the popularity of the concept and it has grown so fast that in the last twelve years the use has grown from one in every seventeen households to one in every ten. Converted to percentage growth it comes to sixty-five." One in every ten households?? That's a lot of "stuff". And why is it in a storage unit and not being used?

I read another article in our local paper about a company that comes to your home and helps you de-clutter. The family in this article had TWO storage units full of "stuff"....not including all the things that were cluttering up their home.

I guess we have so much stuff we can no longer adore it ourselves so we take it to a storage unit were they will store it and adore it for you! But what does the Bible say about our treasure?

"Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Christ is our treasure! "...Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knoweldge." (Colossians 2:2b, 3)

"He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure." (Isaiah 33:6)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
October 12, 2009...

Outside my window...a dark and gray day with rain sprinkles off and on

I am thinking...that the Lord's love for me is truly amazing!!

I am thankful for...space heaters; it was nice to have one this morning while the house was chilly

From the learning rooms...helping Julianne with vocabulary words

From the kitchen...chicken and potato casserole for dinner; hot chocolate for dessert

I am creating...embroidery projects for gifts

I am going...nowhere today! I try to stay home Monday, Wednesday and Friday

I am reading...a biography of George Muller

I am hoping...that we get lots of snow this winter

On my mind…the daylight hours are getting short and it is time to “gather in” for the winter

I am hearing...a train in the distance

Around the house...we just a new dresser for Julianne so her old one is now in the family room holding most of our games

One of my favorite things...is decorating the house for Autumn

A few plans for the rest of the week: lunch with a friend, dinner with a friend, doctor’s appointment, Third Day concert on Sunday!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

This picture reminds me that these beautiful colors will be here in a few weeks!

If you enjoy posts like this, please go over to The Simple Woman's Daybook to see more!

A Question to Ponder

If God stood in front of you right now and told you to do everything to His glory, what changes would you immediately make in order to make Him the center focal point of your life?

In My Home This Week

“Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping.”- Henry David Thoreau

I'm having a slow and steady week here at home. How does that look? For me, it involves these things:

Cooking--daily cooking and also preparing ahead. I cooked a whole chicken and now have meat for future dinners and lots of broth for soups! I also made the best tiramisu and it's so easy!

Baking--brownies, muffins and various other goodies.

Cleaning--the usual laundry, vacuuming, dusting and more. It needs to be done every week but doesn't the house look nice when it is all shiny and clean. It pleases the eye and lowers the stress!!

Reading--taking the time to read the Word, slowly and with expectation.

Crafts--I organized what I wanted to work on for the next few months (Christmas is coming!!) and will start on some projects this weekend

Serving--having time to serve the homeless on Tuesday; writing e-mails and cards to friends who are struggling or to just say "hi!"; being available when needed

Enjoying--the cool weather; a windy Wednesday; my husband and children; God's creation; the time to do all of the above

Are all my weeks like this? No, some are filled with doctor's appointments, lots of errands and being away from home. But those weeks can be calm and quiet also. It's an attitude of the heart. One that I'm trying to cultivate more and more each day.

How is your week?